Microcalorimetric Study of Methanol Adsorption on Initial Silica and Silica Modified with Polyfluoroalkyl Groups

The adsorption of methanol on initial silica and modified silica samples containing large mesopores is studied by the adsorption–calorimetric method. The grafted tridecylfluoroalkyl groups have a tilted orientation on the silica and physically screen the part of the surface OH groups that have not been involved in the reaction with a modifier. Adsorbed methanol makes the modifying layer looser, thus facilitating the accessibility of methanol molecules to these hydrophilic adsorption sites. Concentrations of OH groups involved in the chemical interaction with molecules of the modifier, OH groups physically screened by its organofluoric radicals, and OH groups located on the surface areas free of the modifier are quantitatively estimated. An additional silanization of the modified silica leads to coverage of silica surface areas that are free of organofluoric modifier with trimethylsilyl radicals. The heat of interaction between the methanol molecules and silica surface hydroxyl groups is determined; it is equal to 60 kJ/mol. The structure of the modifying organofluoric layer and changes in this structure that resulted from additional silanization of the surface and from the methanol adsorption are discussed.